Dressing down

THE internet has cost many a politician their career – a foolish statement made or an embarrassing photograph leaked to be seen the world over – yet, amazingly, elected members still fail to understand how to avoid this all-too-obvious pitfall.

The first point would be, when invited to a fancy-dress party, dressing up as a Nazi dictator is probably not a wise idea.

Certainly do not then pose for pictures, and, yet worse still, put them on a social networking website used by 500 million people worldwide.

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Harrogate Council leader Mike Gardner might think it was just a bit of fun to dress as Hitler – and he is right that it was a private party – but surely he can see how offensive many people would find his actions?

He is in a position of power and authority. He leads a council in a town where the economy benefits from overseas visitors – how does he think tourists would react if they thought the town was led by a man who finds Hitler funny?

To put it simply, when Mr Gardner, or any other politician, is next considering a fancy-dress costume, if it is something they could not wear to walk down their town centre high street, perhaps it is something they should not wear at all.

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